The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-01-16

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] On Edge Agony for Ship-owner

Negotiations between the family of ship-owner Periklis Panagopoulos and his kidnappers are edging marginal point. Information, however, on the amount of ransom and the way of payment remain confusing as well as scenarios about audio-visual material the kidnappers have sent to the businessman's family to assure them that he is in good health. According to reports, the difficult part is to collect the ransom sum in used paper currency of 10, 20 and 50 euros. In parallel, authorities continue secret investigations to locate kidnappers while all possibilities concerning their identity are being examined. All telephone calls are from card-phones which the kidnappers destroy after a single communication, making impossible for the police to locate them.

Evaluating all evidence so far, crime experts gather that the ship-owner's health is relevantly well and confirm the carefully drawn plan of kidnappers who appear being well aware of Periklis Panagopoulos multiple health problems.

Sources: ÍÅÔ - ÍÅÔ 105.8

News item: 17788

[02] Under the Microscope of Antiterrorism Body

In a multi-page proclamation sent to "To Pontiki" newspaper, the "Revolutionary Struggle" organization claims responsibility for attacks against Riot Police squad in Exarheia, where young policeman Diamantis Mantzounis was injured, Riot Police bus on December, 23, in Goudi as well as an unsuccessful bomb attack against an oil company in Faliro.

The Eharheia attack was the response to 15 yo Alexandros Grigoropoulos death says the proclamation. The Anti-terrorism Body is already examining the proclamation of the Revolutionary Struggle organization.

Use of violence is condemnable whatever its source is said government spokesman, Evangelos Antonaros. "There is no excuse and I will not waste any time on texts by some who want to justify the use of violence" said Mr. Antonaros.

News item: 17754

[03] ERT News Bulletins High Audience Ratings

Society

AGB media research for December indicates high audience ratings for NET and ET1 news bulletins. The survey was based on the average number of people who watch a news bulletin for at least a minute a day.

According to AGB media research NET and ET1 news bulletins were watched: For at least 1 min. by 3.101.100 viewersFor at least 5 min. by 2.084.600 viewersFor at least 10 min. by1.619.900 viewersNET and ET1 news bulletins are produced by the same teams of journalists. Previous AGB surveys indicated similar results which reflect viewers preference to state television news bulletins.Daily average coverage of news bulletinsViewers: Adults 15+ (Population 9.007.751 people)

DECEMBER 2008 Watching Period: 10' 5' 1'

ET-1 261,5 383,4 841,6NET 1464,7 1875,5 2738,0ET-1+NET 1619,9 2084,6 3101,1MEGA 1981,5 2455,6 3290,7ANTENNA 1388,8 1828,1 2605,9ALPHA 1085,6 1498,9 2282,3STAR 920,0 1229,1 1843,5ALTER 1319,8 1661,8 2293,0ET-3 443,2 661,4 1325,6

Source: AGB Nielsen Media Research

News item: 17755

[04] Demarche Lodged to Israel for âArionâ

Threatened with Attack

As per "Arion's" captain, three Israeli warships approached the boat, which was 92 nautical miles away from Cape Greco, and flashed their lights on ARION, its visibility field. Using loudspeakers, the Israelis then threatened to open fire if the boat continued sailing towards Gaza.

Huaida Araf, one of the organisers of the mission, stated "we were surrounded by four warships, constituting our voyage difficult. They told us they would use all means to keep us off Gaza.""They approached us very close and threatened us to open fire if we went on with our voyage," stressed Araf to Reuters.

The Foreign Ministry lodged a demarche: "As soon as the Foreign Ministry was informed about the situation "Arion" faced at about 15:00 today, while sailing in the international waters off Gaza, the Greek Ambassador to Tel Aviv N. Zafeiropoulos was ordered to lodge a demarche to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Prior to that demarches had been lodged to the Israeli Foreign and Defence Ministries the previous day."

The relevant announcement reads that the demarche was calling the attention of the Israeli forces for the protection of the life and safety of those on board.Yesterday, Israeli warships also forced an Iranian vessel, carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, to stay away.

Source: ÍÅÔ, ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 17739

[05] Back to the Streets

A new education rally is being held before the Propylae, while university student unions affiliated with KKE (Greek Communist Party) have surrounded the Education Ministry symbolically. Students are also holding protests in Chimio Square in Thessaloniki at noon and then will march in the central streets. At the same time, another protest rally in support of the Palestinians is taking place by students before Venizelos' statue.

In the meantime, the student unions are meeting to weigh upon the future of the sit-ins in universities. The unions of the Law School and the majority of the departments of the National Technical University of Athens decided to suspend the occupations. The Athens University of Economics decided to extent the semester for two weeks to make up for the lost teaching hours. The Agricultural University of Athens decided to extent the semester for one week.

Source: NET 105.8, ANA-MPA

News item: 17733

[06] Winter Sales Begin

Winter sales officially opened today and will last till February, 28. Trade unions remind shop owners and consumers remind that goods must bear both old and new price as well as the percentage points of discount such as 20%, 30%.

Consumers' General Secretariat gives tips on shopping. Development undersecretary, George Blahos underlines that consumers must be aware of their rights and be careful to select according to their needs. Price reductions do not mean lower quality and lower safety standards. Consumers must shop around to have a clear picture of offers and certainly do their shopping according to their budget and needs.

Consumers must be aware of the following:1. Shop according to family budget.2. Avoid improvident use of credit cards and consumer loans.3. Inspect quality of goods. In case of irregularities, consumers have the right of return or replacement of goods except for irregulars bought at reduced price in the knowledge of consumer.4. Compare prices and not be tempted by high sales or some selected products at low prices.5. Ask always for receipt.6. Ask for instructions and guarantee in Greek language.7. Refer all problems to Consumer General Secretariat telephone 1520 from 08:00-22:00.

News item: 17709

[07] Cooperation on Migration

Greece, Italy, Malta and Cyprus have signed a joint declaration for the combating of illegal migration. A four-partite meeting among the four countries' ministers of Interior, Justice and Public Order preceded that development. Interior Deputy Minister Thanasis Nakos represented Greece. The main points of the declaration are as follows:

Reference is made to the importance of combating illegal migration, as well as to support to EU actions to boost legal migration in cooperation with migrants' country of origin.

It has been decided that countries that are called to protect endangered humans while crossing ground and sea borders and are burdened with rescue operations in the sea, should be supported. Furthermore, it has been agreed that it is necessary that the countries of origin should be briefed on the dangers resulting from illegal migration.

An agreement on the boosting of cooperation with the countries of origin of migrants has been signed. Moreover, it has been agreed that agreements should be signed on the re-admission of migrants, who have entered illegally and the re-admission of agreements already signed (for example with Turkey) be implemented.

Guarantees for the secure return of migrants, who remain in the EU without any legalising documents, are premised with the hammering out of a complete and effective institutional framework. (i.e Laissez Passer)

Provisions are made for combating organized crime in the Mediterranean Sea and especially ring in trafficking in migrants and humans.

The four states invite the EU to provide them with every possible contribution in their effort to improve the conditions of asylum-seekers and render international protection, in order to tackle the problems from the excessive and disproportional burdening of their national systems that offer asylum.

Statistical Data on the first Nine Months of 2008:

25,515 individuals have been arrested on the Italian border and 39, 622 in the hinterland (in total 65,137 individuals).

4,584 individuals have been arrested on Cypriot border and 42 individuals in the hinterland (in total 4,626 individuals).

2,566 individuals have been arrested on the Maltese border and two persons in the hinterland (in total 2,568 persons).

69,071 individuals have been arrested on the Greek border and 30,154 individuals in the hinterland (in total 146,377 persons).

Applications for Asylum in the First Nine Months of 2008:

7,217 applications were made in Italy, 2,994 applications in Cyprus, 1,995 applications in Malta and 13,325 applications in Greece.

During a Press Conference that followed, Deputy Interior Minister Thanasis Nakos stated amongst others that Greece, Italy, Malta and Cyprus are asking from the EU to recognize their particularities, so that within the framework of the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum, signed recently, practical boosting measures are adopted. The objective is to limit illegal migration and its repercussions on the above countries.

News item: 17704

[08] Manhunt Takes Place in Clandestine

The abduction of one of Greece's most prominent shipping tycoon Pericles Panagopoulos has turned into a thriller. Suffering from serious health problems, he is not certain that he takes his medicine or not. A massive manhunt is currently taking place in clandestine, while, although the kidnapping has been linked to organised crime, police are not ruling out the involvement of local urban guerrilla groups. His family, said the police, wishes to be the only negotiators with the captors.

Crucial Hours

The hours to come are extremely crucial for the progress of the case, as well as for the shipping magnate's health.

The evidence that has come up so far suggested that the gunmen were divided into two groups. Five of them snatched Panagopoulos, while another two or three were expecting them at the spot where they let Panagopoulos' chauffer go.

The armed gang must have been preparing the hit for at least a month, when they started examining the details of the kidnapping. They had been stalking his house, pretending to be either builders or joggers.

The gang may consist of both Greeks and foreigners.

To avoid making any mistakes, they used the abduction of the owner of Greece's leading aluminium company, George Milonas, as their guide. They chose to hit in the morning, because the area is packed with security guards during the night-time.

Police have searched several abandoned buildings and facilities in SE Attica, since they believe the captors did not risk moving far away from the spot they left their vehicles.

Police are primarily concerned with locating Pericles Panagopoulos safe and sound and then launch a massive manhunt.

Source: NET, NET 105.8

News item: 17702

[09] Sanidasâ Announcement

News item: 17694

[10] Extreme Weather Conditions Forecast

Specifically:

- Scattered showers and storms are expected Tuesday night in the Ionian, western and central Macedonia, Western Greece, Thessaly and the Peloponnese. Similar conditions are forecast to hit the northern Aegean islands early on Wednesday.

-Southeasternly winds will be at speeds of 8 to 9 Beaufort and up to 10 Beaufort in the Ionian Sea.

-Weather is expected to improve as of Wednesday afternoon.

The Civil Protection Authority has advised citizens to be extremely cautious.

Source: NET, ANA-MPA

News item: 17657

[11] Investigations Fruitless

Mr. Panogopoulos was ambushed Monday near his house in the affluent coastal suburb of Kavouri. The cars used in the abduction were burnt.

A massive police hunt has been underway ever since, with several meetings taking place at the police headquarters.

The testimonies of Panagopoulos' driver and the builder who witnessed the abduction are viewed as important.

Police have cordoned off the area near the victim's house, looking for new witnesses and evidence.

Political Wrangling on Security

Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros blasted PASOK's statement, whereby such abductions occur only in third-world countries, also noting that what matters the most is to solve the case, for the sake of a fellow citizen who suffers from serious health problems.

PASOK spokesman Giorgos Papakonstantinou accused Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos and government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros of rushing to give an answer to his Monday's statement and wondered which country they live in. "We live in Greece and we have been witnessing a crime surge and a government doing nothing but criticising PASOK," commented Papakonstantinou.

News item: 17641

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